UK Inquiry Tracker

Tackling homelessness

Public Accounts Committee Closed Inquiry

Opened: 31 Oct 2024 Closed: 3 Apr 2025 Parliament page

All forms of homelessness are increasing. In 2022-23, there were over 100,000 households in England living in temporary accommodation, according to the National Audit Office (NAO). The Homelessness Reduction Act 2017 extended the duties for councils to work more on prevention and relief. Since then, homelessness has worsened due to … Read more All forms of homelessness are increasing. In 2022-23, there were over 100,000 households in England living in temporary accommodation, according to the National Audit Office (NAO). The Homelessness Reduction Act 2017 extended the duties for councils to work more on prevention and relief. Since then, homelessness has worsened due to factors including a continuing shortage of social housing, welfare reforms, steep inflation in the private rental sector, and pressure on local housing. The Committee’s “Homeless households” report in 2017 warned that the extent of homelessness across England at the time was a national crisis, with an unacceptably complacent attitude from the then-Department for Communities and Local Government in efforts to reduce homelessness. Its 2024 report on the Homes for Ukraine scheme also raised concerns around the growing number of Ukrainians at risk of homelessness in the UK, as hosting arrangements ended or broke down. The NAO’s study in 2024 considers how the Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities (DLUHC) works with other government departments and local authorities to tackle homelessness. The NAO has noted that homelessness is becoming a problem in places other than the traditional hotspots of London and certain metropolitan areas. It also highlighted that the rising costs of, and demand for, temporary accommodation are putting some local authorities under significant financial pressure. Based on the NAO’s work, the Committee will take evidence from senior DLUHC officials, with likely focuses including: - Government’s understanding of the extent, causes and costs of homelessness; - Delivery of system leadership on homelessness by the Department; and - The response of and support for local authorities. Please note that the Committee is unable to consider or assist with individual cases. If you need help with an individual problem you are having, you may wish to contact your constituency MP . If you have evidence on these issues please submit it here by 23:59 on Thursday 21 November 2024. Please look at the requirements for written evidence submissions and note that the Committee cannot accept material as evidence that is published elsewhere. Show less

18 Recommendations

20 Conclusions

1 Report

1 Oral session

1 Letter

1 Event

Activity timeline 5 events

6 May
2025

Report published

Treasury minutes: Government response to the Committee of Public Accounts on the Fourth report from Session 2024-25

7 Apr
2025

Correspondence

Letter from the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government relating to the Committee’s hearing on Tac…

24 Jan
2025

Report published

4th Report - Tackling homelessness

2 Dec
2024

Oral evidence

Tackling homelessness

2 Dec
2024

Formal meeting (oral evidence session) · The Grimond Room, Portcullis House

Tackling homelessness

Oral evidence sessions 1 session

2 Dec 2024

View on parliament.uk

Tackling homelessness

Catherine Frances · Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities James Wolfe · Department for Work and Pensions Jenan Hasan · Department for Work & Pensions Penny Hobman · Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government Sarah Healey CB CVO · Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government

Reports 1 report · click to expand

Title	HC No.	Published	Items	Response
4th Report - Tackling homelessness	HC 352	24 Jan 2025	38	Responded

Recommendations & Conclusions

2 results

16 Conclusion Accepted in Part

4th Report - Tackling homelessness

Out-of-area homeless placements significantly increasing, causing disruption for households, particularly children.

For a variety of reasons, including lack of housing supply and suitability of accommodation, some local authorities struggle to place households within their local area. MHCLG acknowledges that placing households out of area can cause disruption, especially to children, including … Read more

Government Response

The government agrees and will explore publishing additional data on temporary accommodation and out-of-area placements by April 2025. MHCLG will also continue to engage with local government on this issue, noting existing legislation already requires local placements where possible.

HM Treasury

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18 Conclusion Accepted in Part

4th Report - Tackling homelessness

Anecdotal evidence indicates local authorities are 'swapping' homeless households between areas

We enquired whether some local authorities were effectively “swapping” households with other local authorities. MHCLG replied that it received a lot of anecdotal evidence that this was happening, and that such an approach was clearly wrong given that it is … Read more

Government Response

HM Treasury

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Government Response AI assessment · 37 of 18 classified

Accepted 29

Accepted in Part 2

Acknowledged 2

Deferred 3

Not Addressed 1

Total 18 recs + 20 conclusions

Correspondence 1 letter

7 Apr 2025 To committee Letter from the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government relating to the Committee’s hearing on Tackling homelessness 2 December 2024, March 31

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